MELBOURNE, Australia and TOKYO, Dec. 13, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited (ASX:TLX) (“Telix”, the “Company”), an Australian biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of diagnostic and therapeutic products based on targeted radiopharmaceuticals or “molecularly-targeted radiation” (“MTR”), has today announced a manufacturing partnership with JFE Engineering Corporation (“JFE”).

JFE is an engineering and manufacturing company with extensive expertise in the installation of cyclotron infrastructure and radiopharmaceutical manufacturing in Japan. JFE has recently installed a new IBA Cyclone® 18 MeV Cyclotron at its Yokohama (Kanagawa) facility and is preparing for beam activation and ⁸⁹Zr (Zirconium) production in early 2018, representing the first commercial production in Japan. Importation of radioactive isotopes into Japan is typically very challenging and therefore the prospect of domestic production of new medical isotopes has generated significant clinical interest in novel imaging and therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals.

Telix Co-Founder and CEO Christian Behrenbruch stated, “Telix has an extensive commitment to ⁸⁹Zr isotope in our diagnostic imaging portfolio, particularly for TLX-250 imaging (⁸⁹Zr-girentuximab), our lead program. Japan generally represents potentially the second largest market for our imaging products after the United States and this agreement with JFE paves the way to making our products available to Japanese cancer patients. JFE’s tremendous experience and operational capability is a real asset to our commercial plans in Japan.”

The agreement is an exclusive agreement that initially focuses on technology transfer and feasibility assessment for producing TLX-250 for the Japanese market. The parties intend to work together to conduct initial pilot studies at several key Japanese nuclear medicine centres, as well as engage with the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA) in relation to obtaining advice on extending Telix’s clinical development activity in the US and Europe to include Japan.

Shigeki Yamazaki, Director of JFE’s Medical Division stated, “We are very pleased to be working in partnership with Telix to develop a manufacturing and market access strategy for Japan. The unique geographical and regulatory requirements of the Japanese radiopharmaceutical industry means that centralized manufacturing of novel radiopharmaceutical products is a significant commercial opportunity that can deliver important benefit to patients.”

About Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited

Telix is an Australian biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of diagnostic and therapeutic products based on targeted radiopharmaceuticals or molecularly-targeted radiation (MTR). The Company is developing an advanced portfolio of oncology products that address significant unmet medical need in renal, prostate and brain (glioblastoma) cancer. Telix is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX:TLX).

For more information visit www.telixpharma.com.

About JFE Engineering Corporation

The JFE Engineering Group is continuing to accelerate the globalization of its engineering business and supply leading-edge technologies to countries around the world. JFE Engineering is committed to creating the foundation for life and a better standard of living through innovation in waste management, energy and healthcare.

For more information, please visit www.jfe-eng.co.jp.